Geneva County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Myers gazed stoically Wednesday at a throng of journalists, his soft drawl and calm demeanor belying the nightmare that visited his rural Alabama community, exacting a horrific toll on his own family.

His words, however, told a different story.

“I don’t know how to handle this situation,” said Myers. “I need help from my friends and my family and everybody’s prayers. I just don’t know what to do.”

Myers’ wife, 31-year-old Andrea D. Myers, and their 18-month-old daughter, Corrine Gracy Myers, were among 10 victims slain Tuesday by Michael McLendon in a two-county shooting spree. The couple’s younger daughter, Ella K. Myers, just 4 months old, was in fair condition and awaiting surgery at a hospital in Pensacola, Fla., after being wounded in the attack. His son, 4, was not shot.

As Myers met with reporters and asked Americans to pray for Ella, friends and relatives of the other dead and wounded victims were grappling with how their loved ones came to be in McLendon’s line of fire.

McLendon, of Kinston, had quit his job at a sausage plant in nearby Elba last week. While he killed five of his relatives, at least three of his victims appeared to be selected at random. Andrea Myers and her daughters apparently were just in the wrong place at the wrong time as they visited neighbors who were relatives of the shooter.

Lisa White McLendon, 52, of Kinston, Michael McLendon's mother. Police say the woman was shot to death along with four dogs at the home she shared with McLendon in Kinston. He then set the house afire.

Phil Coale
/
AP

Josh Myers shows photos of his slain wife and daughter, Andrea and Corrine.

Corrine Gracy Myers, 18 months, of Samson, daughter of Geneva County Deputy Josh Myers. Corrine, her mother and sister, residents of Samson, were shot as they visited neighbors who were relatives of the gunman.